Tuesday, May 26, 2009

You know what I hate? What I’m really uncomfortable with when it comes to writing?

It takes time to think.

It takes time to think about life, about philosophy, about what I believe, about what fascinates me. It takes time to wander around Borders and see what catches my fancy, to click around the internet chasing yet another fascination. It takes time to be curious.

It takes time to read, to watch movies, to watch TV shows, to absorb story.

It takes time to let all of that input simmer together. It takes time to put a lid on it, leave it, and go out to the woods and just breathe. It takes time to block out everything but you, your own thoughts, your own center.

The 500 words, the 1,000 words, the 100 words may only take an hour to write, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. And there’s no point in writing if there’s no you, if you don’t bring what is distinctly--and only—you, to the page.

My greatest frustration is that I’m always itching to write, and my brain is constantly bleeping: Need more input.

And there’s this niggling voice going: You’re running out of time.

Ever feel like that?

Just for fun (and to explain the pic above), here’s a three-minute video on success:

20
bonus scribbles:

Thanks for sharing the video. I needed something like that today. Yes, it takes me time. So many of my friends jump into one book after another, but I'm a slower starter. Right now I'm researching for my next book as I'm writing the synopsis for my last. I hope I'll have the plot for my next one when I finish.

my brain is constantly bleeping: Need more input.I'm used to pondering things from my time in advertising -- sometimes you have to just sit and stare at a wall before the right answer comes to you (that was always interesting with five of us in the room -- probably looked odd to anyone else).

I hadn't thought of running out of time, but thanks for putting that in my head. :P

My dad sold watercolors. Usually, because of the nature of the medium, watercolors have to be painted fast, but you need skills and a plan. Customers tended to think in terms of paying for labor and getting their money's worth, so they'd ask "How long did it take you to paint that?" My dad had a stock reply - "Two hours to paint this picture and thirty years to learn how."